Electrical connection apparatus

ABSTRACT

Electrical socket apparatus for integrated circuit packages and like devices has a contact for receiving the male connection element of the circuit device through an aperture in a folded spring section and for seating the male element at the mouth of the folded section. The shank of the contact is split, which forms two branches that provide a resiliently-acting interference fit of the shank within a contact-mounting aperture. A heat sink, preferably employed in a socket with the contact and nested within the profile of the contact spring section, has a heat receiving panel for abutting against the underside of the mounted circuit device.

Johnson Nov. 4, 1975 [73] Assignee: Teradyne, Inc, Boston, Mass.

[22] Filed: June 17, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 479,843

[52] US. Cl 339/112 R; 339/125 R; 339/241 [51] Int. Cl. HGIR 13/00 [58]Field of Search 339/112 R, 125 R, 126 R, 339/126 RS, 127 R, 128, 241,242, 244 R,

244 VC, 248 R, 248 S, 253 R, 252 R, 252 P,

252 S, 256 R, 256 S, 256 SP [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,097,906 7/1963 Shannon 339/256 SP X 3,323,099 5/1967 Spera 339/126 R XPrimary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant Examiner-DeWalden W. Jones Attorney,Agent, or FirmKenway & .lenney [57] ABSTRACT Electrical socket apparatusfor integrated circuit packages and' like devices has a contact forreceiving the male connection element of the circuit device through anaperture in a folded spring section and for seating the male element atthe mouth of the folded section. The shank of the contact is split,which forms two branches that provide a resiliently-acting interferencefit of the shank within a contact'mounting aperture. A heat sink,preferably employed in a socket with the contact and nested within theprofile of the contact spring section, has a heat receiving panel forabutting against the underside of the mounted circuit device.

18 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of33,917,375

Sheet 2 of 3 US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of33,917,375

FIG .8

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION APPARATUS BACKGROUND This invention relates toelectrical connection apparatus and in particular to socket apparatusfor seatingly receiving the male connection elements of an integratedcircuit package or like device. More particu' larly, the inventionprovides a novel contact for sockets of integrated circuit devices. Theinvention also provides a socket incorporating the contact and disposinga heat sink contiguously below the circuit device.

Advantages of the socket apparatus of the invention are facile yetsecure mounting on a panel or other member, secure electrical engagementwith the mating electrical element, and compact seating of the circuitpackage being mounted. In addition, the heat sink pro vides thermallyefficient heat transfer from the circuit package, with little or noincrease in the overall space requirement.

A general object of the invention is to provide an electrical contact,for use in a circuit board socket for an integrated circuit device,which provides reductions in the required space and improvements in boththe mechanical and the electrical connections.

A specific object is to provide an electrical contact of the abovecharacter which seats a mating connection element in a clip having avirtually open bottom. Attainment of this feature enables a device whichis plugged into the contact to locate at a minimal spacing above thecontact mounting structure, elg. a circuit board, essentially withoutregard to the length of the leads on the device. Another object is thatthe contact engage the mounting structure with a secure press-fit, butyet with relatively low insertion force. A further object of theinvention is to provide a contact of the above character which occupiesminimal space and hence can be mounted on a circuit board in a highdensity arrangement with other contacts and circuit elements.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an electrical contacthaving the foregoing features and which has secure resilient engagementwith the mating electrical element. It is a further object that thecontact provide this resilient engagement with a controlled preload.

Another object of the invention is to provide a contact of the abovetype which has a low profile above the mounting circuit board or otherstructure, which can readily provide a plated contact area for themating connection element, and which yet is relatively easy and low costto fabricate.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an electrical socketincorporating a contact having the foregoing features. A further objectis to provide a compact heat sink for socket apparatus of the foregoingcharacter and which conducts heat from a circuit device close to thesite of heat generation therein.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION A socket for mounting and connecting an integratedcircuit dual in-line package to a printed circuit board in accordancewith the invention has improvements with regard to mounting the socketto a printed circuit board or other mounting member, with regard to thesocket contact that receives and electrically interconnects the maleconnection element of the package to further circuitry, and with regardto a heat sink for dissipating heat generated within the circuitpackage.

The socket contact has a shank section that seats the contact in anaperture through the printed circuit board or other mounting member, hasa conventional wire-wrap or solder termination extending below theboard, and has an upper interconnect section. The intermediate shanksection is split or apertured to form two flexible branches. Uponinsertion of the contact into the mounting aperture, these branchesinterfere with the aperture walls and resiliently flex inward. Theresilient force of the flexed branches maintain the installed contact inresilient engagement with the aperture, which ensures secure mechanicalmounting as well as continued reliable electrical contact where themounting aperture has a conductive plating.

The upper interconnect section of the contact has a folded spring clipthat receives and electrically engages a male connection element. Thefold is disposed uppermost on the contact and faces downward, i.e. thearms of the folded structure extend from the fold toward the shanksection. A mating male connection element engages the contact by passingthrough an aperture in the fold to extend into the spring clip, where itis compressively engaged between the ends of the folded structure. Thelength of the folded structure forms the spring clip with a longeffective spring length, which is desirable for secure resilientengagement with the mating connection element. The foregoing contactconfiguration is readily fabricated from a single strip of material witha stamping process, and requires no milling or like cutting.

The foregoing and other features, described hereinaf ter, of the contactconfiguration provide secure and firm mechanical and electricalengagement of the contact within a plated-through. circuit boardmounting hole, and of the mating connection element with the contact.Moreover, the contact has a low profile above the circuit board on whichit is mounted, as well as being compact in the lateral dimension for ahigh density with other structure on the circuit board. In addition, themating connection element can extend beyond the folded spring clip intoabutting relation against the circuit board. This enables the contact tomount the circuit package in utmost proximity to the circuit board,thereby minimizing the space required for the mounted circuit package.Still further, the contact can be configured to dispose the mouth of thespring clip within the circuit-board or other mounting aperture. Thisallows the mating connection element to extend into the contact-mountingaperture for an even lower profile of the contact alone and, moreimportantly, of the mounted circuit package.

The socket contact accommodates a heat sink disposed below the circuitpackage and contiguous with the package underside, which is the locationwhere many circuit packages generate heat. Hence, this undersidedisposition of the heat sink enhances the dissipation of heat from thecircuit package. Fins of the heat sink, however, can extend laterallyoutward and upward from the contact-mounting socket to provide a largeradiating surface without detracting from a high density structure onthe circuit board itself.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts exemplified in theconstructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention isindicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the natureand objects of the invention, reference should be made to the followingdetailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a set of contacts embodying theinvention and mounted on a board-like panel for receiving an integratedcircuit package, and further shows a socket incorporating the contacts;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating contacts embodying afurther construction according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a single contact as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the contact of FIG. 3 partly brokenaway;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single contact having the constructionshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational sectional view of the contact of FIG. 5seated in a plated-through hole of a printed circuit board with a matingconnection element seated therein;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heat sink construction according tothe invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of a heat sinkingsocket according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a set of contacts12, each press fitted into a separate aperture 14 through a printedcircuit board 16 or other mounting panel. The contacts mount anelectrical device, illustrated as an integrated circuit package 18having the conventional dual in-line configuration, to the board 16 andelectrically interconnect each male pin 20 of the package to conductorsplated on the board and/or to wire-wrap or solder connections. Thelatter connections are made in a conventional manner via tail sections22 of the contacts. The set of contacts 12 generally is housed in asocket body 24 to form a unitary socket 26.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, each contact 12 preferably isfabricated from a single strip of metal or other electrically-conductivematerial and has an intermediate shank section 28 between the tailsection 22 and a folded spring section 36. The shank section mounts thecontact seated within a mounting hole, e.g. hole 14 of FIG. 1, and hassidewall edges 30 that compressively engage the mounting hole. Where themounting hole is plated through with metal, the contact edges 30 engagethe plating with an interference fit to provide both mechanicalattachment of the contact with the mounting board and secure electricalcontact with the plating.

To enhance these connections and facilitate insertion of the contactinto the mounting hole, the shank section 28 is split, more particularlyis apertured as indicated at 32, to form two resilient shank branches28a and 28b. The shank section is dimensioned so that the branch corners30 interfere with the mounting aperture. As illustrated, the width ofthe shank section can be larger than that of the tail section, with thetransition being tapered to provide wedging surfaces for insertion. Withthis construction, upon insertion of the shank section into the mountingaperture, the branch edges deform, and imbed into, the aperture walls.In addition, however, the branches resiliently flex inward, i.e. intothe aperture between them. This reduces the force otherwise required toinsert the contact. It also provides a continuous, persisting outwardresilient pressure of the branch edges against the aperture walls. Thisin turn maintains the contact shank section continuously in firmengagement with the mounting aperture. The contact hence remainssecurely mounted, and is resistant to dislodgement by shock and otherabuse.

Where desired, the shank branches can be bowed outward prior toinsertion. This can increase the interference fit, and the amount ofinward flex the branches can accommodate'without exceeding their elasticlimit.

With further reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, each contact 12 has a pairof laterally-extending shoulders 34 adjacent the upper end of theintermediate section and which butt against the contact-mounting boardwhen the contact is fully inserted therein, as in FIG. 1.

The spring section 36 extends upward from the shoulders with one springarm 38 being an extension of the contact-forming material strip and inline with the tail and shank sections 22 and 28, respectively. Aflattened fold 40 of the spring section is at the end, uppermost in theillustrated orientation, of the contact 12. The other arm 42 of thespring section extends from the fold back along the first arm to form aclip 44 that engages the mating connection element, e. g. a pin 20. Theillustrated contact-forming strip is thinner in the spring section 36than in the tail and intermediate sections. This facilitates providingthe desired flex in the former section and the desired rigidity in thelatter sections.

As FIG. 4 shows, a male connection element 20 is inserted into thecontact clip, to seat in the clip 44 between the ends of arms 38 and 42,through an aperture 46 in the flattened fold 40 and aligned with theclip 44 contact areas.

The spring section 36 thus has, when viewed from the side as in FIG. 4,a generally closed U-shaped configuration with the arms 38 and 42forming the sides of the U-shape. Further, a flat inner surface 38a atthe base of the arm 38 faces an inner surface 42a on a tab end 42b ofarm 42, to form the clip 44 contact areas. The length of the springsection, i.e. of the arms and the fold, between these contact surfacesforms a spring to urge the surface 42a against the surface 38a. However,the contact tab 42b preferably has two protrusions 50 that abut thesurface 38a and that flank the contact surface 42a to space it by anarrow gap from the surface 38a. The recessed surface 42a and theopposed surface 38a generally are plated with material, typically goldor tin, that has superior electrical contact properties, e.g. corrosionresistance and low electrical contact resistance.

The foregoing construction provides a contact that securely grips andelectrically connects the mating male element, i.e. pin 20. The longlength of the spring section which the folded construction provides hasa low spring constant, as desired, and without resort to ultra-thinstructure. Further, because the height of the two protrusions on thecontact arm 42 can readily be controlled to a close tolerance, theprotrusions provide the contact clip 44 with a controlled preloadpressure for engagement with the mating male element. Also, the gapwhich these protrusions form enables the critical contact surfaces 38aand 42a to be plated with an electrical contact material. The contact iscompact in both lateral dimensions and with regard to its profile abovethe supporting circuit board 16. The lateral compactness enables thecircuit board to carry other electrical elements, including platedconnections threading between the contact-mounting apertures 14, withrelatively high density. The low profile of the contact itself isenhanced by the fact that it mounts a circuit package, such as the FIG.1 package 18, close to the mounting board 16; this is because thecontact allows the male connection elements on that package to extendinto direct abutment with the board through the downwardlyfacing opencontact clip 44. Finally, the contact is readily fabricated, typicallyby stamping from a single strip of metal, with the protrusions and withthe recessflanking protrusions being cold-formed as by coining.

FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 show another contact 60 having many features of thecontact 12, in addition to an even smaller profile or height above thecontact-mounting member. The contact 60 preferably is formed from asingle strip of metal with a tail section 62, and intermediate shanksection 64, and a folded spring section 66 t for engaging a maleconnection element, such as a pin 68 on the integrated circuit package70 illustrated in FIG. 2.

However, in contrast to the FIG. ll contact 12, the spring section 66 ofthe contact 60 is partly recessed within the mounting panel, e.g. theprinted circuit board 72, and accommodates extension of'a maleconnection pin 68 below the circuit board. Specifically, the contact 60mountingly seats in a hole through the circuit board and has a pair oflaterally-protruding shoulders 74 that control the depth of insertioninto the circuit board.

The intermediate shank section 64 extends in line with the tail section62 between the latter element and the shoulders 74. A pin-receivingchannel 76 recesses the shank section along the major portion of itslength from the shoulders 74 to adjacent the tail section 62. Thechannel 76 preferably is coldformed, and hence the side of theintermediate section opposite the channel 76 bulgingly protrudes outwardas FIG. 6 indicates. The spring section 66 extends from the intermediatesection above the shoulders 74 with an upwardlyextending arm 78, aflattened fold 80 pierced by a pinreceiving aperture 82, and adownwardly-extending arm 84. The lower tab end 84b of arm 84 nestswithin the channel 76 below the shoulder 74, and hence below the circuitboard upper surface when the contact is mounted.

The clip 86 of the contact 60 is formed by the shank surface 64a at thebottom of the channel 76, and the inner surface 84a of the tab 84b. Thelength of the spring section 66, i.e. of arm 78, flattened fold 80 andarm resiliently urges the tab surface into the channel 76 toward surface64a, for resiliently engaging the mating male connection element 68.

The lower-profile contact 60 of FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 generally has somewhatlarger lateral dimensions than the contact 12 of FIG. 1, in order toaccommodate the channel 76. However, this is the only additional spacewhich the contact 68 requires in order to seat a mating connectionelement within the same hole in which the contact itself is mounted.

The aperture 82 in the fold of the contact spring sec tion 66 generallylies in a plane transverse to the longitudinal extension of the contact,i.e. of the tail and shank sections. Further, the aperture preferably iscentered along the width of the spring section, i.e. is centered in theflattened fold between two beam portions a that span between the arms 78and 84. The aperture is further aligned with the opposed surfaces 640and 84a in the contact clip 86. With this illustrated preferredconfiguration, the male pin 68 passes along a straight path through theaperture 82 and into the channel 76 for engagement by the contact clip86. The FIG. 1 contact 12 preferably has the aperture 46 configured inthe same manner relative to the clip 44 of that contact.

With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the contacts 12 as well as thecontacts 60 can, as illustrated, be mounted separately on a panel orlike mounting member independent of other structure. Alternatively, eachcontact can be incorporated in a multiple contact socket, with thecontact portion above the mounting member seated within the contactbody. For example, FIG. 1 shows a socket 26 having a socket body 24molded of conventional insulating material and incorporating theillustrated two rows of contacts 12 arranged in the conventional mannerfor seatingly receiving a conventional dual in-line: package 18.

In particular, FIGS. l and 8 show the socket body 24 is molded with aseparate cavity 90 to accommodate the spring section of each contact.Each cavity has an upper opening 92 aligned above the aperture 46 of thecontact therein and through which a male connection element can extendinto the contact clip. The outer walls 24a and 24b of the two rows ofcavities form the outer sidewalls of the socket, and a web 94 joins thecavity inner walls. Hence the socket body 24 has a generally U-shapedcross-section. The web is located at the base of the cavities and henceis adjacent the contactmounting board 16. As further illustrated,however, it is preferable that the web be spaced by a small gap abovethe circuit board so that, when the socket is installed, the socket body24 abuts the circuit board at the bases of the cavities 90 and not atthe web 94.

As FIG. 8 illustrates, a heat sink 98 can seat within the void in thesocket body between the two rows of cavity enclosures and above the web94. This location of the heat sink 98 disposes it contiguously below theunderside of the circuit package 18 plugged into the socket. This isdesirable because many integrated circuit structures contain the heatgenerating elements proximal to their bottom wall, and hence theunderside disposed heat sink 98 is seated against the circuit packageclosely adjacent the site of heat generation therein. The heat sink 98preferably has an overall I-beam-like configuration within the socketbody, with the top flange member being a panel 980 located just abovethe upper surface of the socket body 24 to protrude upward therefrom toensure that it seats against the circuit package. The lower flangemember 98b is bottomed within the socket body adjacent web 94 and theweb member 98c spans between the upper and lower members, as shown. Withthis illustrated construction, the heat sink which typically is extrudedof metal or other thermally conductive material, is removably seated onthe socket body by an interference fit of the lower flange member 98bwithin the body.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the full structure of the illustrated heat sink98 has, in addition to the structure already described, a pair ofupstanding outrigger fins 98d located on either side of the socket body.Webs 98:2 affix the latter fins to the central portion of the heat sink.Elongated slots 100 in these webs receive the upper ends of the socketbody to seat the heat sink thereon, as FIG. 8 shows, and allow the pinsof the circuit package to enter the socket.

As FIG. 7 further shows with dashed lines, the heat sink 98, independentof whether it includes the webs 98c and fins 98d, can carry additionalradiating fins 102 protruding from the central web 98c.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained. Sincecertain changes may be made in the above constructions without departingfrom the scope of the invention, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsbe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured byLetters Patent is:

l. Panel-mounted electrical socket apparatus for a circuit device fromwhich extend leads arranged in two side-by-side rows, said apparatuscomprising A. first and second side-by-side rows of socket contacts,

1. each socket contact extending within a separate aperture in eachpanel and having a folded contact clip disposed at least partlythereabove,

2. said contact clip having a folded, inverted, U-

shaped configuration including a first clip arm extending toward andwithin the aperture, a bridging fold uppermost on said clip andapertured to receive a lead of said circuit device, and a second cliparm extending alongside said first clip arm and forming aresiliently-expandable contact area therewith for receiving therebetweenthe electrical lead, and

B. a heat sink of thermally-conductive material having an upper paneldisposed between said rows of socket contacts and arranged forcontiguous abutment against the bottom of such circuit device.

2. Socket apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising aresiliently compressible shank member on each socket contact located andcompressively engaged within the aperture in such panel.

3. An electrical socket contact, of electricallyconductive material, formating engagement with a male connection element, said contactcomprising, in combination,

A. a mounting section longitudinally extending between first and secondlocations thereon for mounting said contact within an aperture through apanel-like support member with said locations thereof being accessiblefor electrical contact at opposite sides of said support member, and fortransferring an electrical signal with a further conductor, and

B. a folded contact clip I. having first and second arms integral with afold and extending from the fold in a direction longitudinal to saidmounting section, said first arm being integral with said mountingsection at said first location thereof and extending therefrom to saidfold in the direction away from said second location, and said secondarm extending from said fold in the direction toward said secondlocation,

2. having first and second opposed contact surfaces disposed distal fromthe fold of said contact clip and arranged to receive between them andelectrically engage the male connection element, said first contactsurface being on one of said first arm and said mounting section, andsaid second contact surface being on said second arm, and

3. forming with said arms spring means resiliently urging said secondsurface toward said first surface.

4. An electrical contact according to claim 3 further comprising meansforming a clearance void in said fold for accommodating passage of suchmale connection element from the side of said folded clip distal fromsaid mounting section to within said folded clip and between saidcontact surfaces.

5. An electrical contact according to claim 3 further comprising meanson said second arm forming protrusions extending toward said firstcontact surface for providing a minimum spacing of said second contactsurface from said first contact surface.

6. An electrical contact according to claim 3 further comprising an endtab on said second arm forming said second surface, said tab beingcold-formed to gap said second surface from said first surface by raisedplatforms protruding toward said first surface.

7. An electrical contact according to claim 3 further comprising aconnection-passing aperture through said fold and located longitudinallyin line with said opposed contact surfaces.

8. An electrical contact according to claim 3 further characterized inthat said mounting section and said clip provide, other than saidopposed contact surfaces, an obstruction-free path for the passage ofsuch male connection element from between said first and second armstoward said second location of said mounting section.

9. An electrical contact according to claim 3 A. further comprisingmeans forming a connection element-receiving channel in said mountingsection extending from said first location thereof toward said secondlocation and forming said first surface along the channei bottomsurface, and

B. in which at least a portion of said second arm interfits within saidchannel to dispose said second surface, in the absence of a maleconnection element interposed between said connection surfaces, withinsaid channel.

10. An electrical contact according to claim 3 A. in which said mountingsection includes an elongated shank for seating within the aperture inthe contact-mounting member, and

B. further comprising a longitudinal slot in said shank forming thereina pair of elongated shank branches resiliently flexible into said slot.

11. An electrical contact according to claim 3 further comprising insaid mounting section a resiliently and radially compressible shankmember for interferingly interfitting within the aperture in suchsupport member for mountingly seating said contact.

12. An electrical contact according to claim 3 further comprising meansforming protrusions on said second arm adjacent each of two sides ofsaid second contact surface, said protrusions being disposed forengagement with said first contact surface for providing a minimumspacing between said contact surfaces.

13. Panel-mounted electrical socket apparatus for a circuit device fromwhich at least one lead extends, said apparatus comprising anelectrically-conductive socket contact mountingly seated within anaperture in the panel member and having a folded contact clip disposedat least partly above the panel member; said contact clip having afolded, inverted, U-shaped configuration including a first elongatedmember extending toward and within the aperture, a second elongatedmember extending alongside said first member and forming aresiliently-expandable contact area therewith for receiving therebetweenthe electrical lead, and a bridging fold disposed uppermost on said clipand interconnecting said elongated members, said fold being apertured toreceive the lead of said circuit device for extension therethrough tosaid contact area. 14. A panel-mounted electrical socket contact ofelectrically-conductive material for mating engagement with a maleconnection element, said contact comprising A. a generally U-shapedfolded spring member having first and second arms at least partiallyextending side by side in a first direction from the base of said fold,

B. a contact-mounting section integral with said spring member at theend of said first arm distal from the base of said fold, and extendinglongitudinally with said first arm along said first direction,

said mounting section being configured for seating engagement within anaperture through the panel for mounting said contact thereon anddisposing said fold of said spring member on one side of said panel,

C. first and second opposed contact surfaces,

1. said first contact surface being on one of said mounting sections andsaid first arm and said second contact surface being on said second arm,

2. extending longitudinal with said first direction and in line with thebase of said fold, and

3. resiliently urged toward each other by said spring member forcompressive, electricallyconnecting engagement between them of such maleconnection element, and

D. means forming an aperture through the base of said fold in saidspring member for passage therethrough of such male connection elementfrom outside said folded spring member on said one side of said panel tobetween said opposed contact surfaces in the direction toward theopposite side of said panel.

15. A socket for an electrical circuit package having leads arranged intwo side-by-side rows extending transversely from the circuit pacakge,said socket comprising A. an electrically-insulating body having aU-shaped cross section formed by upstanding contactmounting enclosuresarranged in two sideby-side rows for receiving such leads, and by a webextending between said rows of enclosures adjacent the bases thereof,and

B. a heat sink seated 1. within said U-shape of said socket body,

2. having a panel disposed uppermost thereon for contiguous andheat-transferring engagement with the bottom of such circuit packagewhen plugged into said socket, and

3. having thermal dissipating members extending from said panel withinsaid U-shape of said contact body.

16. A socket according to claim 15 further comprising means in said heatsink disposing the upper surface of said panel thereof above said rowsof enclosures of said socket body.

17. A socket according to claim 15 in which said heat sink furthercomprises A. a pair of upstanding fin members disposed laterallyoutwardly of said rows of enclosures on opposite sides of said socketbody and extending upwardly above said panel, and

B. thermally-conductive web members mountingly joining said fin membersto said panel, said web members being located beyond the ends of saidrows of enclosures and extending outwardly from said U-shape to said finmembers.

18. A socket according to claim 15 further characterized in that saidheat sink has a cross-sectional beamlike configuration within saidU-shape of said socket body and with said panel forming the upper flangethereof, and further having a base member forming the lower flangethereof and a web joining said panel with said base member, said basemember being disposed adjacent said web of said socket body and wedgedlysecured between said rows of enclosures for affixing said heat member tosaid socket body.

l =l l

1. Panel-mounted electrical socket apparatus for a circuit device fromwhich extend leads arranged in two side-by-side rows, said apparatuscomprising A. first and second side-by-side rows of socket contacts, 1.each socket contact extending within a separate aperture in each paneland having a folded contact clip disposed at least partly thereabove, 2.said contact clip having a folded, inverted, U-shaped configurationincluding a first clip arm extending toward and within the aperture, abridging fold uppermost on said clip and apertured to receive a lead ofsaid circuit device, and a second clip arm extending alongside saidfirst clip arm and forming a resiliently-expandable contact areatherewith for receiving therebetween the electrical lead, and B. a heatsink of thermally-conductive material having an upper panel disposedbetween said rows of socket contacts and arranged For contiguousabutment against the bottom of such circuit device.
 2. having a paneldisposed uppermost thereon for contiguous and heat-transferringengagement with the bottom of such circuit package when plugged intosaid socket, and
 2. extending longitudinal with said first direction andin line with the base of said fold, and
 2. having first and secondopposed contact surfaces disposed distal from the fold of said contactclip and arranged to receive between them and electrically engage themale connection element, said first contact surface being on one of saidfirst arm and said mounting section, and said second contact surfacebeing on said second arm, and
 2. Socket apparatus as defined in claim 1further comprising a resiliently compressible shank member on eachsocket contact located and compressively engaged within the aperture insuch panel.
 2. said contact clip having a folded, inverted, U-shapedconfiguration including a first clip arm extending toward and within theaperture, a bridging fold uppermost on said clip and apertured toreceive a lead of said circuit device, and a second clip arm extendingalongside said first clip arm and forming a resiliently-expandablecontact area therewith for receiving therebetween the electrical lead,and B. a heat sink of thermally-conductive material having an upperpanel disposed between said rows of socket contacts and arranged Forcontiguous abutment against the bottom of such circuit device.
 3. Anelectrical socket contact, of electrically-conductive material, formating engagement with a male connection element, said contactcomprising, in combination, A. a mounting section longitudinallyextending between first and second locations thereon for mounting saidcontact within an aperture through a panel-like support member with saidlocations thereof being accessible for electrical contact at oppositesides of said support member, and for transferring an electrical signalwith a further conductor, and B. a folded contact clip
 3. forming withsaid arms spring means resiliently urging said second surface towardsaid first surface.
 3. having thermal dissipating members extending fromsaid panel within said U-shape of said contact body.
 3. resilientlyurged toward each other by said spring member for compressive,electrically-connecting engagement between them of such male connectionelement, and D. means forming an aperture through the base of said foldin said spring member for passage therethrough of such male connectionelement from outside said folded spring member on said one side of saidpanel to between said opposed contact surfaces in the direction towardthe opposite side of said panel.
 4. An electrical contact according toclaim 3 further comprising means forming a clearance void in said foldfor accommodating passage of such male connection element from the sideof said folded clip distal from said mounting section to within saidfolded clip and between said contact surfaces.
 5. An electrical contactaccording to claim 3 further comprising means on said second arm formingprotrusions extending toward said first contact surface for providing aminimum spacing of said second contact surface from said first contactsurface.
 6. An electrical contact according to claim 3 furthercomprising an end tab on said second arm forming said second surface,said tab being cold-formed to gap said second surface from said firstsurface by raised platforms protruding toward said first surface.
 7. Anelectrical contact according to claim 3 further comprising aconnection-passing aperture through said fold and located longitudinallyin line with said opposed contact surfaces.
 8. An electrical contactaccording to claim 3 further characterized in that said mounting sectionand said clip provide, other than said opposed contact surfaces, anobstruction-free path for the passage of such male connection elementfrom between said first and second arms toward said second location ofsaid mounting section.
 9. An electrical contact according to claim 3 A.further comprising means forming a connection element-receiving channelin said mounting section extending from said first location thereoftoward said second location and forming said first surface along thechannel bottom surface, and B. in which at least a portion of saidsecond arm interfits within said channel to dispose said second surface,in the absence of a male connection element interposed between saidconnection surfaces, within said channel.
 10. An electrical contactaccording to claim 3 A. in which said mounting section includes anelongated shank for seating within the aperture in the contact-mountingmember, and B. further comprising a longitudinal slot in said shankforming therein a pair of elongated shank branches resiliently flexibleinto said slot.
 11. An electrical contact according to claim 3 furthercomprising in said mounting section a resiliently and radiallycompressible sHank member for interferingly interfitting within theaperture in such support member for mountingly seating said contact. 12.An electrical contact according to claim 3 further comprising meansforming protrusions on said second arm adjacent each of two sides ofsaid second contact surface, said protrusions being disposed forengagement with said first contact surface for providing a minimumspacing between said contact surfaces.
 13. Panel-mounted electricalsocket apparatus for a circuit device from which at least one leadextends, said apparatus comprising an electrically-conductive socketcontact mountingly seated within an aperture in the panel member andhaving a folded contact clip disposed at least partly above the panelmember; said contact clip having a folded, inverted, U-shapedconfiguration including a first elongated member extending toward andwithin the aperture, a second elongated member extending alongside saidfirst member and forming a resiliently-expandable contact area therewithfor receiving therebetween the electrical lead, and a bridging folddisposed uppermost on said clip and interconnecting said elongatedmembers, said fold being apertured to receive the lead of said circuitdevice for extension therethrough to said contact area.
 14. Apanel-mounted electrical socket contact of electrically-conductivematerial for mating engagement with a male connection element, saidcontact comprising A. a generally U-shaped folded spring member havingfirst and second arms at least partially extending side by side in afirst direction from the base of said fold, B. a contact-mountingsection integral with said spring member at the end of said first armdistal from the base of said fold, and extending longitudinally withsaid first arm along said first direction, said mounting section beingconfigured for seating engagement within an aperture through the panelfor mounting said contact thereon and disposing said fold of said springmember on one side of said panel, C. first and second opposed contactsurfaces,
 15. A socket for an electrical circuit package having leadsarranged in two side-by-side rows extending transversely from thecircuit pacakge, said socket comprising A. an electrically-insulatingbody having a U-shaped cross section formed by upstandingcontact-mounting enclosures arranged in two side-by-side rows forreceiving such leads, and by a web extending between said rows ofenclosures adjacent the bases thereof, and B. a heat sink seated
 16. Asocket according to claim 15 further comprising means in said heat sinkdisposing the upper surface of said panel thereof above said rows ofenclosures of said socket body.
 17. A socket according to claim 15 inwhich said heat sink further comprises A. a pair of upstanding finmembers disposed laterally outwardly of said rows of enclOsures onopposite sides of said socket body and extending upwardly above saidpanel, and B. thermally-conductive web members mountingly joining saidfin members to said panel, said web members being located beyond theends of said rows of enclosures and extending outwardly from saidU-shape to said fin members.
 18. A socket according to claim 15 furthercharacterized in that said heat sink has a cross-sectional beam-likeconfiguration within said U-shape of said socket body and with saidpanel forming the upper flange thereof, and further having a base memberforming the lower flange thereof and a web joining said panel with saidbase member, said base member being disposed adjacent said web of saidsocket body and wedgedly secured between said rows of enclosures foraffixing said heat member to said socket body.